Teen charged in shooting death of 16-year-old

LUMBERTON — A Lumberton teenager was arrested this morning and charged with shooting and killing a 16-year-old boy.

Michael Jacob Locklear, 18, of 2363 Norment Road, was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a stolen firearm in the death of Christopher Jones, of 191 Sparrow Lane, Lumberton.

According to Maj. Anthony Thompson of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Department, Jones was shot in the abdomen at Locklear’s home Thursday night. According to a sheriff’s report, Jones was taken to Southeastern Regional Medical Center, where he later died of his injuries.

Thompson said he did not know of a motive or if Locklear and Jones knew each other before the shooting.

According to the report, sheriff’s Deputy Justin Britt spoke to Jones at the hospital and asked him repeatedly what happened, but Jones refused to cooperate. Britt and two other officers went to Locklear’s home after learning he transported Jones to the hospital and questioned him. The officers took Locklear to the Sheriff’s Office, where he was arrested and charged at about 6:20 this morning, the report said.

Locklear was placed in the Robeson County jail under a $50,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Robeson County District Court on Monday.